JP2018002147A - Non-slip mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a non-slip mechanism which can be applied to various sizes of tires.SOLUTION: A non-slip mechanism (2) comprises: an outer ring (3) directed to outside of a vehicle, and configured to be closed on a wheel; an inner ring directed to inside of the vehicle and configured to be closed on the wheel; and a series of non-slip elements (10) all of which are formed of rubber or thermoplastic material, provided on a tread of a tire (1) of the wheel, and connect the outer ring (3) and the inner ring. The elements (10) comprise respectively, a center element (20), and plural arms (30) for connecting the center element (20), the outer ring (3) and the inner ring. The arms (30) are formed of plural module type elements or links which are connected, in which the elements or links are connected each other, and a sufficient number of the elements or the links are provided to a width of a tire (1).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an anti-skid mechanism or snow chain mounted on a vehicle tire, and more particularly to an anti-slip mechanism having a tread made of rubber or a thermoplastic polymer.

  When the vehicle is on a road surface covered with snow, sleet, or ice, the tires cannot grasp the road surface and can cause dangerous bending and slipping of the vehicle. In order to avoid these problems, an anti-slip mechanism commonly known as a snow chain is usually used.

  Snow chains, usually mounted on vehicle wheels, tear snow and / or ice that accumulates on the road and increase the friction of the tire tread. Thereby, the tire of a vehicle can grasp the road surface firmly.

  Usually, a snow chain is constituted by two side elements (such as a chain, a flexible cable, a steel wire, or a line) as is well known. In use, the two side elements are closed like a ring on the inside and outside of the wheel, respectively. In the following description, they are referred to as an inner ring and an outer ring, respectively. The two side elements are connected by a series of chain portions. The two side elements are variously configured but are typically diamond-like. This increases the friction on the tread. All of these are finished by a mechanism that secures the two side elements. The mechanism is known by the name fastener.

  Usually, the chain part attached to the tread is diamond-shaped. The components of the chain part are arranged in an oblique direction in order to firmly grasp the road surface in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

  As an alternative to traditional snow chains, which are almost entirely made of metal materials, tires are currently being used to reduce the impact on road surfaces that are not covered by snow or ice (eg under bridges or in tunnels). An anti-slip mechanism in which a portion attached to the tread is made of a nonmetallic material (particularly, made of rubber or thermoplastic polymer) is becoming widespread.

  A well-known solution proposed for this type of anti-slip mechanism is to mold or form in one piece. This covers the lateral direction of the tire and sometimes some are joined to cover the longitudinal extension of the tire.

German Patent Gazette No. 1012839B Belgium Application Publication No. 374948A German Application Publication No. 19538393A1

  These known solutions have several problems. First, several molds with different dimensions are required to accommodate different tire sizes. This is especially true for lateral or widthwise stretching. Therefore, the investment cost increases.

  Another problem stems from the fact that hooking means, usually oriented in a direction perpendicular to the tire surface, are used to connect several segments together. Therefore, in the electric vehicle where the space between the tire and the mechanical member of the electric vehicle is extremely small, a bulge (protrusion) beyond the outside of the cross section of the anti-slip mechanism occurs. This is not impossible, but it causes problems.

  Furthermore, from an aesthetic point of view, an anti-slip mechanism having a non-metallic tread is significantly different from a conventional snow chain having a diamond tread-like tread, and thus is not favorably received by the user.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a non-slip mechanism constituted by a modular element so as to constitute a non-slip mechanism applied to tires of all sizes while eliminating the problems of the prior art. Thereby, the investment cost required for the mold and other mechanisms can be reduced.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-skid mechanism with limited overall dimensions, in particular having a part that rises perpendicular to the tire at its connection where several elements are connected. It is to provide a non-slip mechanism that does not. Thereby, the mechanical member of an electric vehicle is not disturbed.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-skid mechanism having a configuration that is not substantially different from that of a conventional diamond-shaped snow chain.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-skid mechanism that is practical and simple for the user, while at the same time being economical and easy to manufacture.

  These objects are achieved by a non-slip mechanism according to the present invention comprising the structure of claim 1.

  Advantageous embodiments according to the invention are disclosed by the dependent claims.

  In essence, the anti-slip mechanism according to the present invention is configured to close on the wheel, directed to the outside of the vehicle and configured to close on the wheel, and to the inside of the vehicle. And a series of non-slip elements made of rubber or thermoplastic material, placed on the tire tread of the wheel, and connecting the outer ring and the inner ring, each of the elements A central element, and a plurality of arms that connect the central element, the outer ring, and the inner ring, and the arms are formed by a plurality of modular elements or links that are connected to each other. Can be coupled to each other in a sufficient quantity with respect to the width of the tire.

  Further configurations according to the present invention will become more apparent from the following description. The description is referred to by way of non-limiting illustration only as one of several embodiments. Such non-limiting examples are described in the accompanying drawings.

It is a figure of the wheel seen from the outside of vehicles, and is a figure showing signs that an antiskid mechanism concerning the present invention is carried in a tire. FIG. 5 is a top view of the anti-slip mechanism placed on the tire sled. FIG. 3 is a view of a part of the anti-slip mechanism shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from above. It is the perspective view which looked at the said part of the anti-slip | skid mechanism shown in FIG. 3 from the top. It is the perspective view which looked at the said part of the anti-slip | skid mechanism shown in FIG. 3 from the top. It is the perspective view which looked at the said one part of the non-slip | skid mechanism from the bottom. It is the figure which looked at two elements or a link contained in circle A of Drawing 3 from the top. FIG. 4 is an axial projection view in which two elements or links included in a circle A in FIG. 3 are exploded. It is the figure which looked at two end links in the same branch of a chain from the top, and shows a mode that the end links concerned were connected with the outer ring constituted with metal cable. FIG. 5 is an axial projection of two end links in the same branch of the chain, showing the end links connected to an outer ring made of metal cable. FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 and shows another state in which the end link is connected to an outer ring formed of a metal cable. It is a figure similar to FIG. 10, and shows the other mode that the said end link was connected with the outer ring | wheel comprised with the metal cable. It is a figure similar to a previous figure, and shows the other mode that the said end link was connected with the outer ring | wheel comprised with the metal cable. It is a figure similar to a previous figure, and shows the other mode that the said end link was connected with the outer ring | wheel comprised with the metal cable. FIG. 15 is a top view of the central element of the anti-slip mechanism configured to receive a link configured similarly to FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 15 is an axonometric view of a central element of an anti-slip mechanism configured to accommodate a link configured similarly to FIGS. 13 and 14.

  1 and 2 show a vehicle wheel provided with a tire 1. The tire 1 is equipped with an anti-slip mechanism according to the present invention. The antiskid mechanism is provided with reference numeral 2.

  The anti-slip mechanism 2 includes an element 3, an element (not shown), and a series of anti-slip elements 10. The element 3 is directed to the outside of the vehicle and closed on the wheel in a circular or ring shape. Hereinafter, the outer ring 3 is referred to. The element (not shown) is directed toward the inside of the vehicle and is closed in a circular or ring shape on the wheel. Hereinafter, it is referred to as an inner ring. A series of anti-slip elements 10 are variously placed on the tread of the tire 1 of the wheel and connect the outer ring 3 and the inner ring.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing and is merely illustrative. In this example, the outer ring 3 of the anti-slip mechanism 2 is closed and fixed.

  These means are not a specific object of the present invention, and may differ substantially from the configurations described herein.

  The element 10 attached to the tread of the tire 1 is made of hard rubber, preferably made of plastic, and preferably has an X shape as shown in the figure.

  In particular, each element 10 comprises a central element 20. Four arms 30 branch from the central element 20 in an X shape. The branched arm 30 is connected to the outer ring and the inner ring of the anti-slip mechanism.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the central element 20 is a hexagon extending in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) indicated by the axis X. The central element 20 has two sets of side surfaces facing each other with an inclination of 45 ° with respect to the axis X. Thereby, the two sets of side surfaces are orthogonal to each other.

  Each of the arms 30 extends from the side surface of the hexagonal central element 20 and is orthogonal to each other. Accordingly, each of the arms 30 is inclined by 45 ° with respect to the axis X and the radial direction of the vehicle.

  Of course, the central element 20 may have a different shape from the hexagon shown, and the inclination of the tilt start of the arm 30 with respect to the axis X may be different from 45 °, theoretically 90 °, ie the tire May be perpendicular to.

  However, as described above, it is preferable that the arm 30 is inclined so as to secure the grip in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.

  According to the present invention, the arm 30 is composed of a modular element 31 and an element 32. Element 31 and element 32 are joined together until the required length defined based on the width of tire 1 is obtained.

  Each of the link 31 and the link 32 is Y-shaped, and includes a central shank 33 on one side and a branch 34 on the other side. A space 35 having a width corresponding to the width of the shank 33 is formed between the branches 34. Thereby, the link shank 33 is accommodated in the space 35 of the branch 34 of the adjacent link.

  In the accompanying drawings, the link 31 may be linear. That is, the shank 33 is aligned with the branch 34 in a completely straight line, and is located on the Z axis of the link (see FIG. 7).

  Instead, the link 32 may be deflected. In the link 32, the shank 33 is preferably perpendicular to the surface 40 of the link 32 opposite the branch 34 and is inclined at an angle α with respect to the axis Z. The angle α is the same as the angle formed by the cutting surface 40 and a plane perpendicular to the axis Z.

  The reason for using the deflection link 32 is to connect the arm 30 which starts to be deflected with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the tire vertically to the outer ring and the inner ring of the anti-slip mechanism.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the angle at which the arm 30 starts tilting is 45 ° with respect to the axis X, and when the angle α is about 10 °, the arm 30 is substantially perpendicular to the outer ring and the inner ring. Four deflected links 32 are used to connect to.

  The number of straight links and deflected links is determined based on the width of the tire 1 of the wheel once the angle α of the deflected link is established.

  In order to increase the grip on the road surface, the central element 20 and / or the link 31, the link 32, or some of these links, for example the link 31 attached to the central element 20, ie the member placed on top of the tread, A ridge may be provided, preferably comprising a stud made of tungsten or hard steel 36.

  In order to connect the links to each other, the shank 33 and the branch 34 of each link are provided with transverse holes 37, 38 for inserting the fixing pins 39, respectively.

  Of course, the fixing may be performed by other means such as a screw / nut and a rivet.

  In this way, a lateral fixing means is provided between the links. The fixing means is placed parallel to the tire surface. This means that there are no protrusions (bumps) formed beyond the surface of the anti-slip mechanism. Thereby, the said anti-slip | skid mechanism can be mounted | worn on the wheel of a vehicle in which the space between the mechanical member of a vehicle and a tire is very small.

  The same fastening system is used for the connection of the first link 31 and the central element 20. There is a stem 21 for connecting the first link 31 and the central element 20 and, just like the shank 33, a transverse hole is formed in the stem 21 for inserting a pin 39 or similar member.

  By inserting the end link of the arm 30 into the corresponding outer ring or inner ring, that is, by inserting the metal wire of the outer ring or inner ring into the hole 37 formed in the shank 33 of the end link 32, the arm 30 and the anti-slip mechanism The outer ring and the inner ring are connected.

  This state is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 with reference to the outer ring 3.

  Another solution is shown in FIGS. The end link indicated by reference numeral 32 'is H-shaped. The link 32 ′ includes two branches 34. The two branches 34 are placed symmetrically on the two opposite sides. The link 32 ′ includes a jumper 45. One of the jumpers 45 is folded on a pin 39 inserted into the end branch 34, and the other is inside the outer ring 3 or the anti-slip mechanism.

  This solution is structurally more complex but easier to assemble.

  13 and 14 show how the end link is connected to the outer ring 3, and is similar to the configuration of FIGS. 11 and 12 using a jumper 45. FIG. However, in this embodiment, the end link is a Y-shaped link 32. This link 32 is on the opposite side to the previous drawing. That is, the branch 34 faces the direction of the outer ring 3 exemplified by the link chain.

  15 and 16 show various embodiments of the central element 20. The central element 20 includes a branch 24 formed with a through hole suitable for receiving the shank 33 of the link 31 (or the link 32) oriented in the direction shown in FIGS.

  From the above description, the advantage of the anti-slip mechanism according to the present invention over the same type of anti-slip mechanism is clear.

  In fact, the anti-skid mechanism according to the present invention can be applied to tires of any size by providing modular elements, in particular links 31 and links 32 that can be connected to each other as required.

  By connecting adjacent links using pins 39 or similar elements that do not protrude from the surface of the anti-skid mechanism, the anti-skid mechanism is applied to the electric vehicle with less space between the mechanical members of the electric vehicle and the tires. It can be installed.

  Furthermore, the arm 30 of the adjacent X-shaped element 10 forms a diamond-shaped outer shape. Thus, the plastic anti-slip mechanism according to the present invention is not substantially different from a conventional metal snow chain having a diamond shape.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above and described in the accompanying drawings, and will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the same scope as the invention defined in the claims. Changes in various details in scope are possible.

Claims (10)

Anti-slip mechanism (2),
An outer ring (3) configured to close on a wheel, directed to the outside of the vehicle;
An inner ring that is directed to the inside of the vehicle and configured to close on the wheel;
A series of anti-slip elements (10), all made of rubber or thermoplastic material, placed on the tread of the wheel tire (1) and connecting the outer ring (3) and the inner ring; Prepared,
Each of the elements (10)
A central element (20);
A plurality of arms (30) connecting the central element (20), the outer ring (3), and the inner ring;
The arm (30) is formed by a plurality of modular elements or links (31, 32) connected to each other,
The element or link (31, 32) has a sufficient quantity with respect to the width of the tire (1). Each of the elements (10) comprises four arms (30) branched from the central element (20),
The link (31, 32) is substantially Y-shaped and includes a shank (33) and a branch (34), and a space (35) having a width for accommodating the shank (33) of the adjacent link is branched. Formed between,
The central element (20) is suitable for accommodating the stem (21) suitable for being accommodated in the branch (34) of the link (31) or the shank (33) of the link (31). Anti-slip mechanism (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a branch (24). In the shank (33) and the branch (34) of the link (31, 32) and in the stem (21) or the branch (24) of the central element (20),
Transverse holes (37, 38) are formed to accommodate the fastening elements (39);
Anti-slip mechanism (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastening element (39) is for connecting the links to each other and for connecting the links to the central element (20). . The arm (30) is inclined and branched with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the tire (1) and the radial direction of the wheel, and is formed by a linear link (31) and an inclined link (32). Configured,
In the straight link (31), the shank (33) is disposed on the longitudinal axis Z of the link (31), and is aligned with the branch (34) in a straight line.
The anti-skid mechanism (2) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein in the inclined link (32), the shank (33) is inclined at an angle α with respect to the longitudinal axis Z.   A metal cable is connected to the transverse hole (37) formed in the shank (33) or the transverse hole (38) formed in the branch (34) in the end link (32) of each arm (30). The arm (30) of each element (10) is connected to the outer ring (3) and the inner ring of the anti-slip mechanism (2) by inserting the outer ring and the inner ring constituted by Anti-slip mechanism (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it is characterized in that At each free end of the arm (30), the link (32) has the corresponding branch (34) facing the outer ring (3) or the inner ring, and the outer ring (3) and the inner ring The outer ring (3) which is folded back on a pin (39) inserted into the transverse hole (38) in one of the branches (34) on the side of the outer side and is composed of a metal cable or a link chain on the other side. ) Or a jumper (45) folded at the inner ring, or
At the free end of each arm (30), the link (32 ') has an H-shape having two branches (34) arranged symmetrically on the two opposing sides, and the outer ring (3) and the above-mentioned The inner ring was folded on a pin (39) inserted into the transverse hole (38) in one of the branches (34) on one side and composed of a metal cable or link chain on the other side The anti-slip mechanism (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the anti-slip mechanism (2) is connected using a jumper (45) folded back at the outer ring (3) or the inner ring.   7. The central element (20) and / or at least some of the links (31, 32) comprise tungsten studs or hard steel studs raised from the outer surface. An anti-slip mechanism (2) according to claim 1.   A slip according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the element (10) is X-shaped and the arm (30) of the adjacent element (10) forms a diamond-like contour. Stop mechanism (2).   The anti-slip device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the central element (20) of each of the elements (10) has a hexagonal shape extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis X of the tire. Mechanism (2). The anti-skid mechanism (2) according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the arm (30) is inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the tire. ).

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